Intermittent feed mechanism



Dec. 8, 1931. A. s. HOWELL INTERMITTENT FEED MECHANISM Filed Jan. 4, 1929 QWS Patented Dec. 8, 1931.

UNITED STATES PATE ALBERT S. HOWELL, OF (IHIIGAGO,

NT OFFICE ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 1'0 THE BELL & HOWELL COK- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS INTERMITTENT FEED MECHANISM Application filed January 4, 1929. Serial No. 330,392.

My inventionwrelates particularly to motion picture machines although not limited to this use alone.

The invention has for its general objects the provision of a simple and effective mechanism for intermittently feeding a perforated strip, such as a motion picture film, and which is particularly adapted for and preferably is arranged for effecting abnormally short feeding periods and correspondingly long rest periods between feeding periods.

With. these objects in view my invention consists in certainfeatures of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said objects and certain other objects, hereinafter appearing are effected, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Injthe said drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mechanism embodying my invention;

.Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same. Like characters of reference indicate like parts in-the several views.

, Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a vertical rearwardly and forwardly extending support, and mounted on this support and disposed in a plane normal thereto is a vertically extending food guide, comprising a rear face guide 2, a front face guide 3', and edge guides 4 having a tension engagement with a perforated strip 5, such as a motion picture film, in the guide;

and pivotally mounted on the support 1, by means of a pivot mounting 6, on a horizontal axis parallel to the plane of the feed guide, is

an arm 7. Pivotally mounted at one end mounted for pivotal feed and return movement longitudinally of the feed guide, on the Spaced rearwardly from the feed guide stud 8, and for bodily movement normal to the food guide, with angular movement of the arm 7 on the mounting 6, to engage and disengage the tooth 11 of the shuttle with perforations 12 of the strip 5 in the feed guide. I Extending through and journaled in abore through the support 1 and disposed intermediate the ends of the shuttle 9 on an axis parallel to that of the mounting 6 and stud 8 is a revoluble shaft 13, and secured on this shaft is a cam 14 which engages opposing surfaces'15on the intermediate portion of the shuttle 9 and extending longitudinally thereof, these surfaces being formed by an opening through the intermediate portion of the shuttle.

As so arranged, rotation of the shaft 13 and consequently the cam 14 effects pivotal feed and return movement of the shuttle 9 longitudinally of the guide.

- Extending through and journaled in a bore through the support 1 and disposed adjacent the stud 8 and parallel with this stud, the mounting 6 and the shaft 13, is a second revoluble shaft 16, and secured on this shaft is a cam 17' which engages an extension of the stud 8 for periodically operating the arm 7 and shuttle 9 rearwardly to disengage the tooth 11 from perforations 12 of the strip 5 with rotation of this cam.

A torsion spring 18 surrounds the pivot mounting 6 and has one end thereof secured with the support 1, as designated 19, and has the other end thereof secured with the arm 7 7, as designated at 20,-for operating the arm 7 and the shuttle 9 forwardl to engage the tooth 11 with perforations 1 of the strip 5. Thus the spring 18 maintains the stud 8 engaged with the cam 17 whereby rotation of this cam effects strip perforation engaging and disengaging movement of the shuttle 9.

The shafts 13 and 16 are driven in timed relation for effecting intermittent feed of the strip 5 in the guide by means of a gear 22 secured on the shaft 13 and meshing with another gear 23 secured on the shaft 16.

Preferably, as shown,'the arrangement is such that thetooth 11 engages a perforation 12 of the strip 5 in the feed guide during but one of aplurality of feed movements of the 'shuttle.9. This'is accomplished by reason ofthe gear 22 being smaller than the gear 23 whereby the shaft 13 and cam 14 makes a plurality of revolutions during each revolution of the shaft 16 and cam 17, the cam 17 being provided with a' highdwell part '24 which maintains the shuttle out of strip engaging position for comparatively long periods and a low dwell part which maintains the shuttle in strip engaging position during but one of eachplurality of feeding movements thereof, and the parts 24 and 25 of thecam 17 being connected-by short active portions 26. a I

While I have described and shown one form of my invention I do'not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown, as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the'following claims:

1. Inan intermittent feed mechanism the combination with a lever like shuttle provided with a perforated strip engaging tooth at one end thereof and mounted at its other end for pivotal feed and return movement and for bodily perforated strip engaging an disengaging movement, of a revoluble cam disposed intermediate the ends of said shuttle and on an axis parallel to the pivotal axis thereof and engaged between opposing surfaces on and extending longitudinally of the shuttle for effecting feed and return movement of the shuttle, a second revoluble cam disposed on an axis adjaoent-to'and parallel with the pivotal axis of the shuttle and operative upon the shuttle at said pivotal axis for eflecting engaging and disengaging move-- ment of the shuttle, and gearing for operating said cams in timed relation.

2. In an intermittent feed mechanism the combination with a pivoted arm, of a lever like shuttle provided with a perforated strip engaging tooth at one end and pivot-ally mounted at its other end on said arm on an axis parallel to the pivotal axis thereof for pivotal feed and return movement and for bodily perforated strip engaging and disengaging movement with angular movement of said arm, a revoluble cam. disposed intermediate the ends of said shuttle on an axis parallel to the pivotal axis thereof and engaged between opposing surfaces on and extending longitudinally of the shuttle for effecting feed and return movement of the shuttle, a second revoluble cam disposed on an axis adjacent to and parallel with the pivotal axis of the shuttle and operative upon the shuttle at its pivotal axis for operating the shuttle in its disengaging movement, a torsion spring at the axis of said arm and-operative thereon to operate the shuttle through its engaging 'mounted at its other end on said arm on an axis parallel to the pivotal axis thereof for pivotal feed and return movement and for bodily perforated strip engaging and disengaging movement with angular movement of said arm, a revoluble cam disposed intermediate the ends of said shuttle on an axis parallel to the pivotal axis thereof and engaged between opposing surfaces on and extending longitudinally of the shuttle for effecting feed and return movement of the shuttle, a second revoluble cam disposed on an axis adjacent to and parallel with the pivotal axis of the shuttle and'operative upon the shuttle at its pivotal axis for operating the same in its disengaging movement, a torsion spring at the axis of said arm and operative thereon to operate the shuttle in its engaging movement, and gearing between said cams and operating said first mentioned cam a plural- 1ty of revolutions during each revolution. of

d said second cam and in timed relation therewith. e

In witness whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 20th day of December, 1928.

' ALBERT S. HOWELL. 

